Foldable furniture



Oct. 19, 1965 N. F. STEUER FOLDABLE FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1965 FIG I INVENTOR. NORMA/V E STEUER BY Mwfi A 7' TO/PNEV Oct. 19, 1965 N. F. STEUER 3,212,464

FOLDABLE FURNITURE Filed March 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG- 4 FIG.&

-ao 32 l l l FIG 5 INVENTOR. NORM/4N E STEUER BY I United States Patent 3,212,464 FOLDABLE FURNITURE Norman F. Steuer, 27 Quarry Road, San Rafael, Calif. Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,341 Claims. (Cl. 108-459) The invention relates particularly to foldable tables and benches and similar furniture made from stamped and scored cardboard, pressboard, corrugated board and like stiii foldable material.

An object of the present invention is to provide furniture which can be readily assembled and disassembled without tools or equipment and which has a minimum number of pieces to handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide articles of furniture formed from disposable material which are sturdy and useful as tables, benches and the like, and which may be disposed of after use if desired, not only because of the nature of the material from which they are made, but from the standpoint of the minimum cost involved in each piece.

Another object of the invention is to provide furniture which is folded from individual units which are flat and which can be stored or transported flat in the knockeddown form.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide tables, benches and the like which are relatively inexpensive and light in weight.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical table or bench of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the assembled bench or table;

FIGURE 5 is the flat blank which goes to make up the top and longitudinal bracing for the bench or table; and

FIGURE 6 is the pedestal in its flattened form for storage or transportation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the assembled bench or table is shown generally by the numeral 10 in FIGURE 1. It consists of a top 11 which is made from a single piece of board such as heavy cardboard, pressboard, corrugated board or the like, and has a central portion 12 which becomes the table top or bench seat. At its two longitudinal edges 14 and 15 the material is scored to form the bracing flaps 16 and 17. The bracing flaps 16 and 17 have triangular cut-outs 18 which are equilateral triangles with a base of lesser dimension than the altitude and with the apex 20 adjacent the longitudinal edges of the top 14 and 15. Contiguous with the flaps 16 and 17 are the vertical support flaps 22 and 23. Each of the flaps 22 and 23 has a short transverse slot 21 which extends outwardly at right angles to the base of the cut-out 18 and is spaced at precisely the width of the base of the cut-outs 18 at each end thereof.

The pedestal is a rectangular blank having four identical panels 24, 25, 26 and 27. At the juncture between ice panels 24 and 25 and between panels 26 and 27 is a vertical slot 28 of a sufficient depth and width to receive and retain therein the double thickness of the vertical support panels 22 and 23 and permit them to abut along the under surface of the top 12 and along its entire length. Continuing along the median line of the slot 28 is scoring 30 permitting panels 26 and 27 to fold transversely of the blank. As indicated earlier, between panels 24 and 26 there is a full transverse scoring 31 which likewise permits folding, and together the scorings form the four equal panels. When the panels are formed by folding on the scorings, the open side of the pedestal form is closed by tape 32 the full longitudinal length of the edges or in any other suitable manner so that there is a hinging between panels 25 and 27. In this manner the pedestal, as shown in FIGURE 6, is a continuous member in the flat folded form with panels 26 and 27 overlaying panels 24 and 25, and with the slots 28 in precise registry with one another.

In assembling the table or bench, the table top 11 is folded downwardly along its marginal edges and scorings 14 and 15. The vertical supporting flaps 22 and 23 are also folded inwardly along their longitudinal scorings 33 and 34. The supporting flaps 22 and 23 are brought together so that their outer faces are in abutment in a vertical plane substantially at right angles to the table top 12 on the underside thereof. This brings the bracing flaps 16 and 17 to their angular position and the cut-outs 18 in registry to form a narrow diamond shape opening. The pedestals are squeezed inwardly from their outer edges to form a narrow elongated diamond shape in conformity with the matching cut-outs 18 in the supporting flaps 16 and 17. The pedestal, in its diamond shape, is inserted in these openings so that the slots 28 receive the double thickness of the vertical support flaps 22 and 23. The diamond shape of the pedestal is retained by the matching cut-outs 18 into which the pedestal fits as shown in FIG- URE 2. When the pedestals are in place as above described, a sturdy, solid, well braced table or bench is provided.

It is apparent that a small table requiring only one pedestal may be made, as well as multiplying the number of pedestals over a greater length.

To disassemble for storage or transportation all that is required is to remove the pedestal from its interlocked position by pulling on them at right angles to the table top 12 to disengage the slot 28 from contact with the vertical support fiaps 22 and 23 and from the diamond shape openings and then flatten the same as shown in FIGURE 6. The table top is then freed and can be folded out wardly completely flat as in the original blank shown in FIGURE 5, or it may be folded so that the flaps 22 and 16 overlay the underneath portion of the table top 12 while the flaps 23 and 17 overlay in an opposite manner the flaps 16 and 22. In this manner the table or bench may be collapsed into a flat form for storage or transportation.

While the description of this furniture has been made in connection with three single sheets or blanks, one for the table top and one each for the two pedestals, nevertheless, it is possible to use individual panels of thin wood, plastic or the like and join them with hinges which will take the place of the scorings. Or there can be various combinations of plastic, wood, paper, etc. All of this, of course, is contemplated without departing from the disclosure of the present invention and will accomplish the same results.

In any event, it will be observed that by following the teachings of this invention, it is possible to quickly assemble tables and benches from relatively inexpensive material which are both rugged and stable. Likewise, that they may be assembled or disassembled in position without the use of tools and without any great skill being required to put them into full operation. The fact that these tables and benches may be made of corrugated board or pressboard indicates that they are of relatively inexpensive materials and may be disposable if desired without too great a waste.

The pieces may be treated in the conventional manner to make them fire resistant, if this is a factor.

I claim:

1. Foldable furniture readily assembled and disassembled from and to flat single sheet elements, one of said elements being a top central panel flanked at either side by a side panel and a support panel, each defined by a longitudinal score for folding, oppositely disposed openings in said side panels to receive and pass therethrough when in the folded operative position the shape of the expanded pedestal element, said support panels when folded to the face to face'operative position forming a continuous under support for said top central panel at right angles thereto, and the other said element being one or more pedestals or legs cooperating with said top and interlocking in said openings in said side panels to make a stable piece of furniture.

2. The furniture of claim 1 wherein the top element is a series of separately hinged panels in side-'by-side longitudinal arrangement, having a central top panel flanked longitudinally at each side by a side panel having cut-out portions to receive one-half of the shape of the expanded pedestal elements and .an outer support panel.

3. The furniture of claim 1 wherein the pedestal is a flat single sheet scored transversely into a plurality of panels, with the free ends hingedly joined together, and expanded to a hollow poly-sided figure of uniform height.

4. Foldable furniture from single pieces of sheet material forming two elements, one of said elements being a top having a central longitudinal panel flanked at either side by a side panel having cut-out portions conforming to one-half of the expanded shape of the second element, and a support panel outwardly of and coextensive with the side panel, said support panels being in face to face relation and in a plane perpendicular to the under surface of said central panel when folded, a second element of one or more pedestals having transverse scorings dividing it into a plurality of panels with the free ends hingedly joined, which when expanded along the scoring lines forms a hollow poly-sided figure which conforms'to and is received in the abutting cut-outs of the side panels, said second element being notched at the top for locking engagement with the face to face support panels.

5. The furniture of claim 4 wherein each of the panels of both elements is separate but hinged together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,100,061 6/14 Ebert 46-30 1,854,663 4/32 Nebel.

1,930,173 10/33 Lauth et a1. 46-15 2,031,477 2/36 Gianninoto et a1. 312-259 X 2,141,399 12/38 Luhn 46-15 X 2,174,679 10/39 Zinser 46-115 2,361,875 10/44 Sachs 108-150 2,390,546 12/45 Mather -115 2,550,959 5/51 Bowman 74-1015 2,765,112 10/56 Derman 297-440 3,126,140 3/64 Lizan et' a1 108-115 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. FOLDABLE FURNITURE READILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED FROM AND TO FLAT SINGLE SHEET ELEMENTS, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING A TOP CENTRAL PANEL FLANKED AT EITHER SIDE BY A SIDE PANEL AND A SUPPORT PANEL, EACH DEFINED BY A LONGITUDINAL SCORE FOR FOLDING, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED OPENINGS IN SAID SIDE PANELS TO RECEIVE AND PASS THERETHROUGH WHEN IN THE FOLDED OPERATIVE POSITION THE SHAPE OF THE EXPANDED PEDESTAL ELEMENT, SAID SUPPORT PANELS WHEN FOLDED TO THE FACE TO FACE OPERATIVE POSITION FORMING A CONTINUOUS UNDER SUPPORT FOR SAID TOP CENTRAL PANEL AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, AND THE OTHER SAID ELEMENT BEING ONE OR MORE PEDESTALS OR LEGS COOPERATING WITH SAID TOP AND INTERLOCKING IN SAID OPENINGS IN SAID SIDE PANELS TO MAKE A STABLE PIECE OF FURNITURE. 